me much wiggle room. And you’re right, there’s no substitute for being here on the ground. You’ve got to pick your targets very carefully, and know when to pull the trigger. The worst thing you can do is just start throwing money around this place. The people around here have been separating fools from their cash since the Hanseatic League in the fourteenth century. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“How long are you in town? I’d love to take you to lunch next week.” Gage shifted his gaze to Liliana and smiled. “Both of you, of course. We can talk more business, and I can introduce you to a few folks. I’d offer to show you around but I’m betting Ms. Pilecki is a better tour guide than I am.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow, but I hope to be coming back next month. Let’s definitely set something up for next time.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Gage stood, ending the meeting. He handed Jack a card. “Don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions before then. But like I said, Portugal is a better bet right now. You’re wasting your time in Poland, and maybe even your clients’ money.”
“Thanks for the advice. I’ll check it out.”
Gage handed his card to Liliana as well. “And if I can be of any service, please call that number, anytime.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gage. I appreciate it.”
Gage’s phone rang.
Jack shot out his hand. So did Liliana. They shook.
“We’ll see ourselves out. Thanks again for your time.”
Gage picked up the phone receiver. “Good to see you again, Jack. Ms. Pilecki.” He punched the button to speak, smiling and nodding at Jack as he shut the door behind them.
* * *
—
Jack and Liliana thanked the receptionist and headed out of the office and into an empty elevator.
On the way down, Liliana said, “I don’t like that man.”
“Why not?”
“He kept undressing me with his eyes.”
“There’s something about that meeting that doesn’t add up.”
“Why? Because he turned down your sixty-million-dollar offer?”
“If business is so bad for him here, you’d think he’d welcome the chance to offload some of it onto a sucker with cash burning a hole in his pocket.”
“At least he acknowledged the fact he knew you met with Zbyszko and Stapinsky.”
“Gage isn’t stupid, and he knows I’m not, either.”
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open to a busy lobby.
“What do you want to do about it?”
“I’d like to take a look around Gdańsk, if you don’t mind, and check out his other two properties.”
“Shouldn’t be difficult. I know the area. They aren’t far from here.”
“Good. With any luck, we might be heading back to Warsaw tonight.”
* * *
—
Gage stood at his window, his phone stuck to his ear, watching Jack and Liliana pull away from the curb in her silver Audi coupe.
“They just left. This can’t be good.”
“Are you sure he isn’t just looking for an investment opportunity like he said?” Hu Peng asked. Gage had had his phone on conference mode during the meeting so Hu could listen in.
“I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. With all of the opportunities available to a firm like Hendley Associates all over the world, what are the chances he would show up in my two-bit office looking for a deal? Or, for that matter, that penny-ante douche Stapinsky’s?”
“You’re panicking.”
“I’m being realistic. We have to do something.”
“I already have.”
Gage blanched. “What have you done?” Junior was an arrogant prick, but he was still the son of the President of the United States. He never would have recognized young Ryan, but his father called him a few days ago informing him of Jack’s arrival in Warsaw, thanks to a PI firm employed by his stepmother. He reassured his father that the “vacation” plans were still canceled, but that was a lie. Ryan was also working for Gerry Hendley, and Christopher’s father had warned him to never cross the ex-senator, a man of incredible resourcefulness with a vengeful memory to match.
“Nothing drastic,” Hu said. “Just surveillance. I made arrangements after Ryan set his appointment with you.”
“Is that necessary?” Gage didn’t tell Hu about Junior’s true identity, fearful that his Chinese partner might panic and do something stupid.
For his part, Hu didn’t tell Gage that for unknown reasons Jack Ryan, Jr., was on a high-priority watch list set by The Czech personally, along with strict orders to track him but not to harm him. Gage was Hu’s partner but not yet a full member of the Iron Syndicate, which held a higher loyalty for the